Saturday, July 26, 2008

Weekend Wind-down - Kissing

The 6th July (Ally's birthday) was National Kissing Day in the UK. I missed it! (Kissing Day, not Ally's birthday. Ally's birthday I remembered.) I'd be more concerned about being unaware it was Kissing Day if the idea hadn't been dreamt up by Denplan, a health insurance outfit. Rather takes the romance out of it, doesn't it?

BUT as a consequence of National Kissing Day there's been a fair bit of discussion on kissing since. That's kissing games, kissing techniques, kissing anecdotes, best kissing experiences and countless surveys.

One survey revealed 95% of young women believe they aren't getting enough when it comes to kissing. But the good news, for me anyway, is that British men, with 42% of the vote, were dubbed the best kissers of Europe. The Italians came in second with 15%, closely followed by the French with 13%.

The Germans topped the list of the worst kissers with 38% of the vote. But whilst British men did top the best kissers list they also came second in the worst kissing one with 18% of the vote. The Greeks were third with 14% and the French in fourth place with 8%.

I'll need to put in some serious research before I can offer an informed opinion on the above. Obviously.

When it comes to kissing etiquette, 35% of women voted bad breath as the worst thing you can bring to the experience. Slobbering all over your partner was a sin for 31% of women and nearly a fifth (18%) are put off kissing someone who smokes. (I suspect they are the 18% who haven't seen Francesco da Mosto.)

When it comes to which celebrity we'd like to kiss, Johnny Depp won (28%), closely followed by Brad Pitt (27%). Angelina Jolie has the lips we'd most like to have.

When it comes to the most iconic screen kiss, 33% opted for Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. There's a fair bit of sizzle in that movie but .. most iconic screen kiss???? Not so sure.

Denplan commissioned their own survey. I mean National Kissing Day was their creation, after all.

In first place they have Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in 'Ghost'.

Second, the animated kiss between the cocker spaniel Lady and the mongrel Tramp in 'Lady and the Tramp'. Remember? Serenaded by a waiter singing the love song "Belle Notte", the dogs start eating from opposite ends of a strand of spaghetti. When they meet in the middle, they have a little kiss and Tramp offers Lady the last meatball on the plate.

Which, I think, goes to show that location is as much a part of the kiss as anything else. Not a bad backdrop, is it? But my practical nature always wonders how condusive all that sand really is!

Eighth, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in 'Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back'. There's something special about a 'first kiss'. I agree this one works - unlike Harry Potter's. Apparently, Daniel Radcliffe and Katie Leung took 30 takes to get their kiss right in 'The Order of the Phoenix'. Didn't work for me.

Tenth, George Peppard and Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffanys'. Why is kissing in the rain so romantic?

Amazingly, not ONE of those screen kisses would make my top ten. My winning kiss goes to Richard Armitage and Daniella Denby-Ashe in 'North and South'. It's the hands, I think. The way he cradles her face. And the fact it's a 'first kiss' which has been a long time coming.

And then there's Colin Firth and Renee Zellweger in 'Bridget Jones'. I liked that kiss. How about Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in 'The Lake House'? Come to think of it their chemistry was fantastic in 'Speed' as well. Then there's Drew Barrymore and Michael Vartan in 'Never Been Kissed'. And I rather like the kiss half way up the stairs between Paul Rudd and Alicia Silverstone in 'Clueless'. Oh and Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in 'The Notebook'. That's a great rainy day kiss.

So, what would make your top ten?

Much loveNatasha

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You can find out more about it on her website and you can hear her moan about her sheikhs and other assorted disasters by visiting her blog.

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11 comments:

HERE I meant to say thank you for the lovely North and South clip. I think their kiss is just perfect, you are right. I also love the next thing that happens, when she jumps up to go and fetch her bag and he thinks she is leaving on the train. And the surly pouty friend who hands her the bag!!

Now my complete computer ineptitude is visible to everyone. Sorry about the comment in the wrong place before this!!!!

ooh Michelle, yes, Daniel Day and Madeleine for sure. And also the kiss between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis in Top Gun.And Keanu Reeves and Lori Petty in Point Break..yum! thanks Natasha!x Abby Green

Oooh, as screen kisses go I loved Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in The Long Hot Summer. Those two had just fallen head over heels in love for real at the time so maybe that's why it works so well. And I also loved DDL and MS in the Mohicans too.

But best of all has to be Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint in On the Waterfront (only black and white movie buffs will know this one). When he breaks into her apartment (he's just confessed to her he was involved in her brother's murder - so she's locked him out). She smacks him round the head with a hairbrush and then they end up kissing against a wall in just about the steamiest and most emotionally charged kiss in movie history IMHO.

And yeah, I didn't get Leonardo either until I saw The Departed, he's grown up in that. I personally think Titanic is the most overrated movie of all time (next to Dr Zhivago!)

The North & South clip is magnificent, I agree that's the hands play a huge part in it. Makes you wonder (or dream) about what else that man could do with such talented hands.I love the kiss between Al and Michelle in 'Frankie & Johnny'. It blew me away the first time I saw it. His hands are raised as he's very apprehensive about touching her and as he kisses her the flower market behind them comes to life. The colour, the tenderness of his kiss, the way she reacts are all images I'll never forget. I think I may have cried when they finally took the chance and locked lips!!! Viggo kissing Liv's character in the final part of TLOTR is another kiss imprinted on my brain. He believes her to be dead and when he finally realises she's still alive his whole face lights up. When he just lunges in at her to kiss her my heart nearly stopped. I loved it.

Great post, I love the idea of kissing being taken seriously because without kisses the whole romance scene wouldn't work for me. Its definitely the most intimate thing any two people can share, in my humble opinion.

I agree with the North and South clip. The only one in that series that jazzes me more is the proposal when he loses control and says he doesn't want to possess her...he asked her to marry him because he loves her. OMG. I nearly die every time.

And just as good as that kiss in N&S is how he holds her hand as she's trying to talk. Dear LORD.

I also like the "almost" kiss of Matthew McFadyen and Kiera Knightley in the rain in P&P. Just crackles with tension!

I know there's one on the edges of my brain that I'm missing...but seriously any time a man steps forward, curls his hand around a woman's head and kisses her like he'll die without it...I'm a goner.